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ANNA ROBINSON 



BOSTON 

DANA ESTES & COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


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SEP 12 1906 

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Copyright, igo6 

By Dana Estes & Company 


All rights reserved 


LITTLE PAULINA 


Colonial i|rcss 

Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co. 
Boston, U. S. A. 


LITTLE PAULINA : CHRISTMAS IN 
RUSSIA 


I T was nearing the close of a short winter^s day, — the day 
before Christmas. Thickly fell the snow, fiercely keen 
blew the northern wind, heaping the drifts into crannies and 
gullies, and then whirling them far and wide. The fir-trees were 
all behung with wreaths of sheeted white, that the next blast 
flung abroad in scattered showers. The sky lowered above all, 
gray, cheerless, and hopeless, as a man — setting his teeth hard, 
and facing the inclemency as he best might — cast his eyes up 
toward the heavens, and then looked around him, with an air that 
bespoke his having lost his way amid the solitudes of the pine 
forest. 

He might have been a denizen of the place, for the coarseness 
and even squalor of his clothing. The rough tunic and cloak 
of sheepskin, the bearhide gloves, and wolfskin cap befitted 
the meanest serf. But for all his peasant garb, it was clear he 
was a stranger in this part of the country. 

With one more perplexed look about him, he suddenly shouted 
aloud. The sound seemed dulled and deadened by the damp, 
frozen air and the curtained canopy of overhanging trees. 

His voice seemed shut in, like himself, within the confines 
of this dreary wood prison. Yet once again he shouted, — once 
again sent forth an appealing cry for aid, — if it might be that 

5 


6 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


human aid was near. And then — amid the gloom and silence 
— there came an answering sound, — a cry high-pitched, but 
dulled by distance and by seeming lack of power in the shouter. 

The man turned his steps in the direction of the response he 
had heard, calling loudly. It was repeated, and evidently drew 
nearer. Just then he emerged from among the thickest of the 
trees, into a more open space, a sort of pathway leading through 
the forest. 

Along this track he could now see, coming toward him, a small, 
dark figure, muffled in fur. It looked like a black bundle, more 
than a human being. The head was enveloped in a dark* sheep- 
skin cap, that fitted so closely around the face as to show only 
eyes, nose, and mouth. The body was wrapped in a cloak, and 
the lower limbs were encased in thick leggings and boots. Ex- 
cept that the head and shoulders were plentifully sprinkled with 
snow, and the small patch of face looked bright and rosy, the 
whole seemed a moving ball, of coarse, dark, furry stuff. 

But the rosy patch looked cheerily. The dark leggings stumped 
along with an alert, assured step; and it was evident that from 
this small muffled individual came the high-pitched cry that 
had answered the man’s call for help. 

The man hastened to meet the child, saying: — 

“ Well met, little one ! Direct me out of this wood. Be my 
guide. You doubtless know every winding of the forest path.” 

“ I am a stranger in these parts,” the child answered. “ I 
came from the capital. I live in Kief — that is, I did live there. 
I am going to find a home with my father.” 

“ And where is your father? ” said the man. 

They banished him — he’s in exile — I am going to him,” 
she replied. 

“ Going to him ! Do you know how far it is to the frozen 
regions whither culprits are banished, little one? ” asked the man. 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


7 


‘‘Yes; I know it is a long way off — but I have managed to 
come nearly a fourth of my journey, and I shall get through the 
rest, never fear.” 

“‘Never fear!’ But don’t you fear? It’s a long way, and 
a fearful place when you get there.” 

“ I know it is; but if it’s bad for me, it’s bad for my father, — 
and it will make the place better for him if he have his little Pau- 
lina with him, to help him bear its fearfulness.” 

“ I am not speaking of what it is to him. It would be more 
tolerable to him, I dare say, with his child to keep him company 
there ; but what I mean is, that it will be a terrible place for you 
— you don’t know its horrors.” 

“ Oh, yes, I do. They told me of them when he was banished. 
They tried to prevent my going after him, but I got away. I 
made my escape — I crept out of the house — I watched my 
opportunity — I managed to get past the sentinels at the city 
gates — I have made my way, by little and little. I shall reach 
there, never fear.” And she nodded with an assured air, as she 
repeated the last words. 

The man shook his head. “You don’t know the place you 
are so eager to reach, my little maid,” he said. 

“ I dare say it’s very dreadful; but, however bad it may be, 
home is worse now, — without my father.” 

“ And who is your father? ” said the man. 

The child was just about to answer in her prompt, straight- 
forward way; but she caught the earnest, scrutinizing look of 
the stranger, as his eye rested upon her, while he asked the ques- 
tion. She checked herself, and said : “ Didn’t you say you had 
lost your way in this forest? Do you live far from here? ” 

An odd smile passed over the man’s face, as he answered: 
“Yes; very far. I have wandered among the depths of this 
forest till I’m perishing with cold, and starving with hunger. 


8 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


I want food and shelter. How far distant is the next vil- 
lage?” 

They told me it was some miles on,” said the child. “But 
I’ll tell you what I’ll do for you. Instead of taking you on with 
me there, I’ll turn back with you, to the good woman at whose 
hut I slept last night. She gave me a night’s lodging, and I dare 
say she’ll do as much for you. She has a kind heart.” 

The same smile passed over his face, as the man replied : “If 
you present me to her as your friend, — an unfortunate fellow 
who has lost his way, — I have no doubt she will take me under 
her roof. And, truly, in this snow-storm, the sooner food and 
warmth may be had, the better. But in securing them for me, 
you are hindering your journey, little one. Shall you not grudge 
the delay? ” 

“ It will be but a few hours. You need my help. If I turn 
out of my way to give it you, my journey afterward will prosper 
the better,” she said. “ My father would approve of it.” 

“ Your father is a worthy man, then? ” 

“You seem to doubt it ! ” said the child, turning a flashing 
eye up toward the speaker. 

“If he be so, — and his teaching his child charity and kind- 
liness of conduct speaks in his favor, — how comes it that the 
emperor banished him? ” returned the man. 

“ The emperor was made to believe unjustly of my father. 
Enemies misrepresented his actions. My father was too proud 
to vindicate himself to his sovereign, even had he had the oppor- 
tunity of pleading his own cause.” 

Again the man smiled, and then fell into a reverie, while his 
young conductress took him by the hand, and led him along the 
path by which she had come. After a time she looked up into 
his face, and, seeing its dreamy expression, said: “You are 
feeling sleepy, are you not ? Beware of that ! ” 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


9 


“ I do find myself drowsily inclined,” said the man. “ The 
cold — the long fast — the many hours’ wandering — I own 
I shall be glad of a moment’s rest, little one. Let us stop here 
a few minutes.” 

And he would have leaned against the trunk of one of the 
nearest trees skirting the forest track; but the child exclaimed 
vehemently, — tugging at his hand : “ No, no ! you must not rest. 
Anything but that ! Rouse yourself ! Come on, come on ! Here, 
take me up in your arms, and carry me for a little way. The 
exertion will do you good, and the warmth of my body will help 
to unnumb you. Lift me up ; be quick ! ” 

The man laughed, but obeyed her peremptory order. There 
was such an air of decision in all she said and did, — as if it were 
the only right thing to be said or done, — that it was difficult 
to resist her commands. In the present instance, the course she 
had appointed was certainly the best that could have been hit 
upon for averting the threatened danger. 

The effort of raising her helped the man to throw off the 
overpowering sensation of drowsiness that was fast seizing upon 
him; and when she was in his arms, she nestled close to him, 
and hugged him around the neck. She was a slight child of her 
age, so that she was not inconveniently heavy ; yet, had she been 
even heavier, the man, though unaccustomed to bear such weights, 
would have willingly gone on carrying her. 

“ Do you know, I have just such a little girl of my own, — a 
little daughter, — perhaps a year or two younger than you, with 
whom I was going to spend the Christmas Day, when, owing to 
an accident, I became lost in the forest. I should like my little 
girl to thank you for your care of her father. I wish she could 
see you. What say you to coming with me to my home, and 
making friends with her? ” 

I should like it very much ; but you live far from here. 


lO 


CHI^ISTMAS IN' RUSSIA 


and I must not let anything interfere with my journey to my 
father.” 

“ But my home — at least, the place where my little girl now 
is — lies all in your way. You must pass it going to your father. 
We’ll journey together, as far as we can. Our first concern is, 
to get back to your friendly peasant woman’s hut, recruit our 
strength, and afterward to devise some means of getting on. Per- 
haps she can provide us with a guide.” 

Trust to me. I’ll guide you,” said the child. 

He laughed but made no reply. 

‘‘ Now you’ve got over your drowsiness, you can set me down 
again,” she resumed. 

“ But you’ll be glad of the lift. You must be tired,” said the 
man; ‘‘ and I don’t mind carrying you, if it rests you.” 

“ Oh, I’m not at all tired. I’ve learned to walk a good long 
way, now, without wanting to rest. Set me down, please. It 
will do us both good to be in sharper exercise. Here, let’s run 1 
It’ll warm us. Come 1 One, two, three, and away ! ” 

The man hesitated. “ I’m not in the humor to run,” he said, 
laughing. 

“ Nonsense ! It’ll do you good I You must ! ” she replied. 
“ The less you feel inclined to stir quickly, the more necessary 
it is you should exert yourself. It’s only the numbing effect of 
this bleak air. You feel chilled inside, don’t you? But, never 
mind 1 Nothing like a race to cure you. Now, then ! Give me 
your hand ! Let’s start for that clump of low bushes, yonder ! ” 

She planned several of these running matches, fixing the start- 
ing-posts, appointing the goals, arranging and deciding all the 
particulars. And when they had been successively achieved, 
she turned to the man, and said with an air of satisfied triumph : 
“ Well ! wasn’t I right? You feel warmer now, don’t you? ” 

He returned her nod with another, smiling, and highly enter- 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


II 


tained. But she, quite gravely, rejoined: “Of course; and 
yet, if I had not made you take a good run, you’d have kept creep- 
creep- creeping along, till your blood had become as stagnant 
as the surface of our Dnieper, when it’s frozen into ice a foot 
thick. Besides, the race has not only made you warm, it has 
beguiled the way; for here is the good woman’s hut close at 



hand. Now, once more. Give me this much start, and I’ll beat 
you ! ” 

The good peasant woman received her little guest of over- 
night and her companion with much hearty kindness. 

“ ’Tis a wild place,” she said, “ and when one of these sud- 
den snow-storms come on, ’tis hard for us — let alone a stranger 
— to find the way out.” 

“ I’ve given him a helping hand as far as I can,” said the child 


12 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


with her decisive nod. “ Now it’s for you to do your share, and 
kindly give him a meal, as you did me last night.” 

“ What I have, he shall be welcome to,” said the woman. 

Thanks, mistress,” replied the man. “ I sha’n’t forget you; 
and one day or other — ” he paused; and Paulina finished 
his sentence for him. “ One day or other,” she said, “it may 
be your chance to meet with some poor body even worse off than 
yourself. Do what you can for them. That will be the best 
way of returning this good woman’s kindness to us.” 

The child said this while she was bustling about, helping the 
woman to spread the table, and prepare the meal. She trotted 
about diligently, seeming to know where everything was kept, 
and making herself quite at home. 

She still kept the poor stranger under her immediate protec- 
tion, providing for his accommodation and comfort, pointing a seat 
out for him near to the hearth ; relieving him of his outer cloak, 
and hanging it up on a nail; lifting the fur cap from his head, 
and beating the snow out of it, before she replaced it; hover- 
ing about him, and paying him those little fondling attentions, 
half- cherishing, half-deferential, which mark the conduct of a child 
toward an indulgent parent. 

Presently she came and sat down beside him on the settle. 
“ What a curious ring you have upon this finger. It’s some- 
thing like one that my father used to wear. But his was an em- 
erald ; and this is, of course, a bit of green glass. Still, it’s very 
pretty, — it looks almost as well. Indeed, it’s larger; and here 
are some curious characters engraved upon it. Who gave it 
you ? ” 

“ It was my father’s,” said the man. 

“ Then, of course, not in the worst poverty could you part 
with it,” said she. “ It is a false stone, isn’t it? ” 

“ Having passed from father to son, for many generations. 


CHR/STMAS IN RUSSIA 


13 


and from my own father’s hands into mine, it possesses a value 
for me beyond the most priceless gem,” answered he. 

“ And it really is pretty in itself,” said the child, “ and very 
curious. These characters are like those I have heard my father 
describe upon the imperial signet ; he said his own ring was very 
like the emperor’s, only smaller, and quite plain. Yours is about 



the size, — and with just such characters. Perhaps it was made 
in imitation; but, though it’s an imitation jewel, it’s very bright 
and pretty. It’s just as good as if it were real.” 

“ Just,” said the man. “ I’m quite satisfied with it. The 
emperor’s own signet-ring couldn’t content me better.” 

‘‘Ah, but it would me,” said the child. “If I had that, I’d 
soon use it to some purpose. I’d affix it to tha deed which should 
repeal my father’s sentence.” 


T4 . 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


She turned the ring round and round upon the man’s finger, 
as his hand still lay in hers, sighed thoughtfully, then looked 
out toward the still falling snow, saying: “ But I am dreaming 
of what I should like to happen, when I ought to be working 
at what I can do. We stay too long. Come, let us be going.” 

“ The afternoon is set in for a continued fall of snow,” said 
the peasant woman. “Best not to venture into the forest now. 
Nightfall will overtake you before you can reach the village. 
Abide another night here, and set out to-morrow early. You 
will be all the better for the rest.” 

“ But even if you are so kind as to let me sleep here again, 
and share your eldest child’s cot, as I did before, how can you 
manage for our poor friend here? ” said the little girl, pointing to 
the stranger. 

“ The good man can lie upon this settle, by the side of the 
hearth. ’Twill be a warm, snug berth for him; and if it be a 
little rough or hard, he has lain upon many a rougher and harder. 
I’ll warrant,” said the woman with a good-humored smile. 

“ The field of battle is a harder couch. Stretched wounded 
upon the earth in the open air is rougher lying than upon this 
good settle,” replied the man. 

“ You are warm now, hands and all,” said the child. “ I will 
leave you for a little while, that I may help our kind hostess. 
While she end I are about it, you can rock the cradle with your 
foot.” 

While thus busily engaged, Paulina was struck by a sound 
in the outer room, as of talking. She listened. She could not 
distinguish the words, but she felt certain that she heard another 
man’s voice in reply to that of the stranger. The talking was 
carried on in a low, whispered tone, but talking she assuredly 
heard. 

When she returned to the room, however, the stranger was 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


15 


alone, and sitting in precisely the same attitude as she had left 
him, — bending over the wood embers, spreading his hands 
to catch their welcome warmth, and with one foot resting on the 
rocker of the cradle. 

“ You see, I am obeying your commands,” he said, glancing 
with a smile toward the cradle. 

“ I’m glad to see you can profit by good example,” she said. 



I fancied you were neglecting your duty, and so came to 
remind you of it. But it’s all right. I made a mistake, I see.” 

The next morning, at daybreak, Paulina was astir, and pre- 
paring to set out. She went to rouse the stranger, whom she 
found still fast asleep on the settle. 

“ Awake, awake ! It is time we were off,” she said, as she 
shook him by the shoulder. 

“ How now ! ” exclaimed the man, angrily, as he half-started 
up, half-opened his eyes, and looked around him in surprise. 


1 6 CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 

“It is a fine morning. The snow has ceased. We ought to 
be on our way. Come ! up with you ! ” said the child. 

“It is too early, — by and by, — another hour’s rest,” mut- 
tered the man, as he let himself fall back upon the settle. 

“ I can’t afford to wait an hour longer,” said Paulina. “ If 
you prefer another hour’s sleep to my guidance, stay behind. 
But, take my word ; you had much better go with me through the 
wood. Remember how you lost yourself yesterday. Well, what 
say you? Decide at once; for I am in a hurry to be off.” 

“ Since you will have it so, — I suppose I must,” said the man, 
yawning, stretching, and rising reluctantly. “But what a ter- 
rible tyrant you are, my little protectress.” 

“It’s all for your good,” returned she. “ I want to set out 
early, in order that we may reach the village on the other side 
of the wood before evening.” 

The man laughed; while she alertly set before him the black 
bread and the warm milk and water, which the good woman 
had provided for their breakfast, and brought him his sheep- 
skin cloak, and helped to fasten it under his chin. 

The weather had quite cleared up. For a Russian climate, 
the day was fine ; and the two wanderers made their way through 
the forest with such good speed that it was still early in the 
afternoon when they reached the village. It was a very small 
hamlet, consisting of a few wood- cutters’ huts. At the door of 
the most important looking among them, which served as a sort 
of post-house, there stood a sledge, surrounded by a small ret- 
inue of attendants, as if awaiting the master. Pauhna lingered 
a moment to admire the pretty trappings of the vehicle, its soft 
cushions, its fur and velvet linings, the bright harness, and the 
elegant shape of the coach itself. 

Her companion asked one of the men standing near, whither 
the sledge was bound. 


CH/^/STAIAS IN RUSSIA 


17 


“ We are going to take it for our master to Igorhof,” replied 
the attendant. 

“ The very place where my daughter is.” 

“ As the sledge is going empty to Igorhof, I wonder whether 
these people would allow us to ride in it,” said the man. “ I should 



dearly love to reach Igorhof on Christmas Day. I’ll tell them 
I’m not so poor as I seem, and that, if they’ll trust my word and 
allow us to ride. I’ll pay them for their courtesy when we arrive at 
Igorhof, where I have friends and money.” 

“ But is that true? ” asked the child. 

“ Perfectly true,” answered the man. 


8 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


“ We can but try, then,” said Paulina. “ It would help us on 
our way delightfully. But I’m afraid they won’t believe such shab- 
bily dressed people as you and I; and perhaps they will object 
to our riding in the fine coach, lest we should soil it, and they 
get into disgrace with their master. Still, we can but try. After 
all, if they refuse, we are but where we were.” 

“To be sure,” said the man. “ Besides, I can offer them 
my ring as a pledge for the money I promise them, until we reach 
Igorhof.” 

“ But as it’s a false stone, they won’t care to take it,” said the 
child. “ And if they believe it real, and accept it for such, that 
would be deceiving them.” 

“ Never mind, I can but try,” repeated the man. 

“ Well, you can try if they’ll take it, when you have owned 
it to be false; but tell the truth.” 

“Never fear; I’ll say nothing but the truth — the exact 
truth,” said the man, as he advanced toward one of the attendants. 

Paulina could not hear exactly what passed between them; 
but she saw the stranger show the groom his ring. She saw that 
there was an explanation, — a request made, — and, at length, 
acquiescence given. 

The man returned to her side. “ He has consented,” said he, 
“ and has undertaken for his fellows to agree that we shall occupy 
the empty carriage as far as Igorhof.” 

“ That will be charming ! ” exclaimed the child. “ I hope 
they’ll not be long before they set out.” 

“Well done, eagerness ! ” exclaimed the man. “But you 
forget that I’ve fasted since daybreak, and I must have some- 
thing to eat. I’ll go into the house, and see what’s to be got.” 

“ Well, be quick,” said Paulina. 

“Won’t you come in and have some, too?” asked the man. 
“You must be hungry.” 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


19 


“ Yes, I’m hungry; but I don’t want to come into the house. 
It’ll only take up time. You can bring me out something to eat.” 

By the time the two wanderers had partaken of some refresh- 
ment, the equipage and retinue were prepared to start. The 
man helped the little girl into the luxurious coach, took his place 
beside her, and the next instant they were off at a smart pace. 
As the sledge glided smoothly over the frozen snow, and the dark 
objects that skirted the way seemed to be flying past, and the 
road to be melting before them, — as she felt herself borne swiftly 
and easily along, Paulina could have believed herself in some 
pleasant dream, so wondrous did it all appear. She sat breath- 
less, fixed, and perfectly upright, unable as yet to yield herself 
to the full luxury of her position, in the bewilderment of its novelty. 

“ Presently,” she said. ‘‘ I can hardly yet make myself be- 
lieve that it is all real; that I am actually flying on thus, 
speedily and dehghtfully, instead of toiling along on foot. It 
is like magic. It must be a fairy car.” 

“ In truth,” said the man, “ it does seem a marvellously well- 
contrived sort of affair, this sledge coach. See here, what commo- 
dious pouches in the side! Well stored, I dare swear, with 
comforts of all kinds. Ay, here is a shawl for the throat. Truly, 
the owner must be a fellow of some taste to provide thus for his 
accommodation in travelling.” 

“ The credit for the arrangements may belong to his servants,” 
said Paulina. “ But, at any rate, I think he would not be pleased 
to see his private comforts appropriated by a stranger,” she added, 
as she observed the man, to her great vexation, twisting the shawl 
around his neck. 

Let the things alone. Take off the shawl. Give it to me. 
I’ll put it away, on this side, out of your reach.” 

The man laughed, but did as she bade him. 

“ You think I’m not proof against temptation, little one,” 


20 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


he said. “ Do you doubt my honesty? What sort of man do 
you take me for? ” 

‘‘ It is difficult to make you out exactly,” said the child. “ You 
said something this morning that made me think you had been 
a soldier; yet you didn’t say so, absolutely. You may be an 
honest man, — but I don’t know. You say you are not so poor 
as you seem. What is your profession? ” 

“ Profession ? I don’t profess anything — I — make no pro- 
fessions,” he said, smiling. 

“You are evading my question,” she said, gravely. “I mean, 
what is your trade, — your calling?” 

“ I am no tradesman, — and as for my calling — ” 

He hesitated; and the child, looking steadily into his face, 
said : “You avoid answering me directly about yourself, yet 
you wonder that I don’t tell you at once all about my father. 
Let us each keep our own secrets, and be good friends. Come, 
tell me a little about your daughter. How tall is she? Is she 
pretty? And is she very fond of you? ” 

“You will see her soon, I hope, and judge for yourself,” an- 
swered the man. “But in my eyes she is very pretty, and she 
is certainly very fond of her father.” 

“ Yes,” answered Pauhna, gravely. “ But,” continued she, 
“ I dare say your daughter seems pretty to you because she has 
a kind and loving face. I can believe that she is really pretty, 
as well as pretty from affectionate looks and from being fond of 
her father.” 

“And pray what may be your reason for believing this?” 
rejoined he. 

“ Because you have rather a nice face yourself,” she said. 

“ Rather a nice face ! ” echoed the man, still laughing. “ Is 
that all the praise you can find for me? I assure you, I am ac- 
counted passing handsome; nay, I have been told a thousand 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


21 


limes that I am the handsomest man in all my — in all these 
dominions.” 

“ Absurd ! ” said Paulina. 

‘‘The handsomest man in all Russia — the handsomest man 
of my time — they have actually said, over and over again ! ” 

“ Ridiculous ! ” exclaimed she. “ And impudent ! They were 
either joking, — laughing at you in their sleeve, — or trying 
to wheedle you.” 

“ Humph ! ” responded the man in the tone of one who half 
assents, half feels posed. “ But, here we are at Igorhof,” he 
added, as the sledge drew up at the gates of a large mansion 
but indistinctly seen now through the gray twilight of a Russian 
evening. 

“You are getting out, here?” said the child. “Have you 
much farther to go before you reach the place where your daugh- 
ter is? ” 

“ No ; ’tis close by. Give me your hand. ’Tis my turn to 
guide you, now.” 

He led her on, — she could not see exactly where, by reason 
of the deepening darkness; but it seemed to her as though they 
crossed a spacious area or courtyard, in the direction of the grand 
mansion indistinctly seen. 

They stopped at a small side door, which he opened, and 
entered. Within was a kind of vestibule, lighted by the softened 
light of a lamp, that hung at the foot of a winding staircase. 

“ Have you a right here? Are you not making your way into 
a strange house?” said Paulina, hanging back, as the man pre- 
pared to mount the stairs, still holding her by the hand. 

“ Trust to me — as I trusted you, in the forest,” said the man, 
smiling. “ Trust to me, and, — to use your own word, — never 
fear ! ” 

As he finished speaking, they reached the top of the staircase ; 








4 

1 

m 

i 

I 


■i 




CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


23 


and, throwing open a door which stood opposite to them on the 
landing-place, the man led her forward into a spacious room, 
richly furnished, hung with tapestry, and lighted by a large silver 
lamp suspended from the ceiling. 

The man threw a hasty glance around, as if in search of some 
one; then, muttering, She will be here soon,” threw himself 
upon one of the cushioned couches, as if thoroughly wearied. 
Presently, his eye rested upon some papers that lay piled upon the 
table. He drew the heap toward him, and began turning them 
over, when his hand was arrested by Pauhna’s exclaiming : “ How 
can you? Don’t you know it is dishonorable to peer into papers 
that belong to others? ” 

“ Humph ! You keep a strict eye upon me, my little guard- 
ian. This is one of my doings, I suppose, that you don’t 
approve of ? ” 

“ It is,” said Paulina. 

“ And the others, pray? What may they be? ” he rejoined. 

“ I didn’t like your meddling with the articles in the sledge 
pockets; I didn’t like your creeping into this house without an- 
nouncing yourself. It makes me sometimes suspect — ” 

“ Well? ” said the man. 

That you are, — in short, that you are — a thief.” 

The man was still laughing at this uncompromising reply, 
when the door of the apartment opened, and a little girl entered. 
She was very young, but there was such ease, grace, and high 
breeding in her air, that she seemed older than she really was. 

As she advanced into the room, she gazed with a quiet won- 
der at the two strange figures there; but, looking more intently 
at the man, — whose coarse, rude garments at first prevented 
her recognizing him, — she sprang forward, and threw herself 
into his arms, exclaiming, “ Father! dear father! ” 

He embraced her fondly in return, and for a few moments 


24 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


they were wholly engrossed with each other. Presently, he turned 
to where Pauhna stood in mute astonishment at this scene, and 
said : “ But I must not forget my httle preserver. Thank her, 
Hermione. I owe her my life. She helped me out of that con- 
founded wood, where I might have wandered on till now — or 



perished, starving of cold and hunger. She saved me from the 
snow sleep, in which I might have been frozen to death. She 
guided me through all these mortal dangers, to say nothing of 
her keeping guard upon my morals.” 

He was laughing heartily as he concluded, but Pauhna never 
altered from the serious look with which she regarded him. She 
kept her eyes steadily upon his face, with the grave scrutiny 


CBJilSJMAS IN RUSSIA 


25 


vAth which from time to time she had observed him, ever since 
she had had doubts of his being the poor destitute creature he 
had seemed at first. 

“ Well, httle one, have you made up your mind yet about 
me?” he said. 

“ I have heard of robbers going out prowling in poor shabby 
clothes, and having a rich home, with plenty of luxuries to come 
to,” she said in her straightforward way; “so you may still be 
what I took you for, — a thief. But somehow I don’t think 
you are, now.” 

“ And pray what may have altered your opinion? ” said he. 

■“ Your daughter,” she replied. “ Since I have seen her, I 
think you must be an honest man, — an honorable man, a gen- 
tleman, — for all you are meanly dressed. Perhaps that may 
have been from some chance — some accident, and that you 
are, in fact, some great lord.” 

“ Well done ! Well aimed ! ” he exclaimed. “ Come,” added 
he, “ I’ll make a bargain with you. If you’ll tell me your father’s 
name. I’ll tell you who I am.” 

“As I believe you to be honorable,” she said, keeping her 
eyes upon his face, “ I will tell you his name. It is Vladimir 
Betzkoi.” 

The man’s brow darkened, then contracted into a frown. But 
after a few seconds it cleared, and he muttered, “ I will not be- 
lieve it. His child’s artless speeches and conduct bear proof 
that he must be a man of worth and probity. At all events, I 
will have it looked to.” 

Then he added aloud : “ You did me no less than justice, 
little one, in believing me a man of honor. Now that you have 
trusted me with your father’s name, I will use all my power to 
have his case inquired into.” 

“You will interest your friends 1 You will use your influence 


26 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


with them to have my father’s case properly represented to the 
emperor ! You will do what you can for us ! ” exclaimed Pau- 
lina, her eyes sparkling with joy, and fixed eagerly and hope- 
fully upon the man’s face. He nodded and she went on : “I 
remember. You said you knew the master of this house. He 
must be a rich man — a powerful lord — you will interest him ? 
You will speak to him in my father’s behalf? ” 

Again the man nodded; and again Paulina went eagerly on: 
“ Will you let me see your friend, and tell him myself? The mas- 
ter of the house ! Perhaps he’s at home now ! Come, let us go 
to him at once 1 ” she exclaimed, starting up, and seizing the 
man’s arm. 

“ Softly, softly, little one,” answered he, smiling. “ You for- 
get how tired I am with my wanderings.” 

“ I am thoughtless, selfish, — I forget all, in my one concern 
for my father; but you will forgive his daughter for her sake, 
won’t you?” said Paulina, pointing to Hermione, and then pro- 
ceeding to bustle about, as she had done at the peasant’s hut, 
drawing off his gloves, and helping him remove his cloak. 

His daughter joined her in her ministry, with her own quiet, 
gentle, yet decided manner. She had stood by her father’s side 
the whole time, with one arm upon his shoulder, as he sat; while 
he held her in one of his, passed around her waist. 

“You have fasted, then? — you have been delayed on your 
journey ? — some accident ? — these clothes ? ” she now said, in 
her tender voice, full of affectionate interest, though so gentle 
and low. “ Dear father, tell me what has happened. But 
first you must need refreshment. They shall bring supper here.” 

“Ay, let it be so,” he answered. “ And, Hermione,” he went 
on, beckoning her to lean down and listen to something that he 
whispered in her ear. She looked in his face with a smile, as he 
concluded, and then ghded swiftly from the room to give her orders. 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


27 


Presently Hermione returned, followed by a train of servants, 
with preparations for the meal. Some spread the table; while 
others drew near to the couch where the man sat, bearing a furred 
dressing-gown and shppers. 

Paulina put out her hand for the latter. 

The attendant would have withheld them, but, at a sign from 
the man, gave them to her. She put them carefully on his feet, 
saying: “ Now for your wrapping-gown.” 

The other attendant stepped forward, about to hold it ready; 
but Paulina took that also from his hands, with No, no ; give 
it me. I’ll put it on. I’ll step on the stool, on tiptoe ; and I shall 
be able to reach.” 

“ Let her do it,” said the man, and with his amused smile. 

“ You have not yet told me your name,” she resumed. “ If 
you’re not a thief, you do not keep your promises, and that’s 
nearly as bad.” 

There was a stir, and a look of amazement among the attend- 
ants ; but the next moment it subsided. 

“ Is not that rather a rude way of reminding a person of his 
promise? ” asked Hermione, with her calm smile. 

“ I don't mean to be rude, but I speak the truth,” said Paulina, 
in her grave way, which was too sincere, earnest, and straight- 
forward to be insolent. “ I observed my part of the bargain 
at once. I put myself in your father’s power by trusting him with 
the name he asked; and I expected he would keep his word with 
me in return.” 

“ He will do so, be sure,” said Hermione, smiling, and look- 
ing at her father. 

He nodded, saying: “ But let us have some supper first.” 

He chatted gaily, and seemed in high spirits, and very happy, 
as he sat between the two little girls, his daughter Hermione on 
one side of him, Paulina on the other. 


28 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


“ How came you to tell me such a fib about your daughter? 
said Paulina, suddenly. 

“ How do you mean ? ” was the reply. 

‘‘ You told me she was pretty, didn’t you? ” 

“Yes; don’t you think her so? ” 

“ No ; she’s very different from pretty. She has the most 
beautiful face I ever saw. It’s like what I fancy a queen’s must 
be.” 

“ You hear how plain-spoken she is,” said Hermione’s father. 
“ She told me just as openly, — but far less complimentarily, — 
what she thought of my face.” 

Hermione gazed fondly upon the face in question, and smiled. 

“ Then you wouldn’t like to know you were never to look 
upon it again, — for all its ugliness; eh, little one?” said the 
owner, laughing, and turning to Paulina. 

“ ‘ Like to know ! ’ ” she repeated, with more than even her 
usual gravity. “ It would make me very unhappy. I have taken 
a great fancy to your face — to you — I should be very, very 
miserable if I thought — ” 

The child stopped, with a break in her voice that was even 
more eloquent than speech. 

The man was touched with the artless evidence of liking in 
this sincere little creature. After the pause of a minute, he said : 
“ Come, give me a kiss upon this ugly cheek of mine. I’ll prom- 
ise you that you shall hereafter see as much of this homely face 
that you’ve taken a fancy to as you could wish. You and I are 
friends for life; for you saved mine, remember.” 

“ If she don’t remember it, we ever will, will we not, my father? ” 
said Hermione, as Paulina stood on tiptoe beside him, and gave 
him the kiss he had asked, heartily and affectionately, saying 
at the same time, with playfulness : “I trust to this promise, 
though you broke the other. I’ll believe you will keep your word. 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


29 


that we shall be always friends, though you have not yet kept 
your word, and told me who you are. I ought to have held back 
my kiss, till I knew who claimed it.” 

“ I have a father’s right to it,” answered he. “ I am your 
father, while your own is away.” 

“ My father ! ” she exclaimed. 

“ Your father! ” he repeated; “ the father of all my subjects, 
— the father of my people. I am the Emperor of Russia.” 

Paulina stood gazing at him fixedly, in utter astonishment. 
Her face worked eagerly; her breath went and came. Then 
she dropped upon her knees, flung her head on his, and clasped 
them around, as she exclaimed: “ My father! My own father! 
Think of him! Grant him his freedom! Pardon him! Re- 
member the Christ- child, whose day this is ! For His sake pardon 
my father ! ” 

The emperor kindly bent over her, and spoke soothingly. 

Presently she started up. “Yet why do I say, ‘ Pardon him.’ 
He has done nothing that needs pardon. He has been ever loyal 
and faithful. Do him justice ! Redress the wrong that has been 
done him, and restore to yourself a devoted officer and servant ! ” 

“ If only for his child’s sake — ” the emperor began. 

But Paulina interrupted him with : “ Not for mine ! Not 
because I happened to do you a service! But because he him- 
self deserves to be freed — he who has been punished as a traitor, 
when he was none.” 

“ Never fear, little Conscientious ! ” said the monarch, laugh- 
ing. “ Entire justice shall be done. Your father shall have the 
benefit of a close investigation into his case. Will that satisfy 
you? ” 

“ Quite,” she said in her grave way. 

“ And now, you will tell all your adventures, my father, will 
you not? ” said the calm, sweet voice of Hermione. 


30 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


“ I will tell you the whole story,” said the emperor, drawing 
her within his arm, as before, while he left his other hand in the 
grasp of Paulina. “ I was on my road hither from Kief to keep 
the Christmas time, when the sledge was by accident overturned. 



just on the borders of the forest. My people helped me into a 
sort of miserable cabin, — the nearest at hand ; and, as my 
clothes had become wet with the snow, when I arrived there 
I donned some of the good man’s dry apparel in place of mine 
own, until they could be dried. While this was being done, feel- 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


31 


ing stifled with the smoky atmosphere of the cabin, I strolled 
forth into the open air. The snow-storm had abated. I wandered 
on, striking into the forest, until, at length, the snow beginning 
to fall thickly again, I woke up to a sense of danger, — that I 
was losing my way, — that I should be unable to retrace it, — 
that I should find difficulty in making my people aware of my 
situation. I shouted, but in vain. I plunged desperately on, 
but felt that I only involved myself further, and that each step 
but diminished the chances of rescue. In this perplexity I en- 
countered my little friend here, who kindly took me in hand, 
and managed for me, when I could not have helped myself, — 
Emperor of all the Russias as I was, — and bit of a thing as she 
was. While w« were housed at her friendly peasant woman’s 
hut, — whither she had conducted me for food and rest, — it 
happened that my faithful Ivan joined me, having found where 
I had taken refuge. He had set out in search of me, the instant 
he learned I was missing, and had succeeded in tracking me 
there. It was while Pauhna was in the inner room that he en- 
tered the outer one where I sat. He could hardly restrain an 
exclamation of joy when he discovered me; but I made him 
a signal of silence, and in a low voice rapidly explained my de- 
sire that he should go back to his fellows, bid them meet me on 
the following day with the carriage at the village post-house, 
and observe, with them, the utmost care in avoiding any betrayal 
of my identity.” 

“ Ah, I thought I heard voices ! ” exclaimed Paulina, who 
had been listening breathlessly to this account; “low as you 
spoke, I heard you ! ” 

“ Your instructions were obeyed, my dear father, and you 
were able to remain unknown for any other than the poor man 
you seemed ? ” said Hermione. 

“ All went well,” replied her father. “ The sledge met us 


32 


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA 


at the place appointed, and the men played their parts to per- 
fection. 

“ Well, when we arrived here,” he resumed, “ Little Scrupulous 
must needs take it into her head that I was a burglar, stealing 
into a strange dwelling-house, and roundly she took me to task for 
my evil deeds, and for endeavoring to make her an accomplice. 
But I found means to pacify her suspicions, until your appear- 
ance did them all away, teaching her to confide in the belief that 
your father was an honest man, as I have come to the same con- 
clusion respecting hers, through a like guarantee. Well is it for a 
parent, when his child’s ingenuous face vouches for his own integrity.’’ 

Paulina’s father was recalled from exile; his innocence tri- 
umphantly proved, while he himself was reinstated in all his 
former possessions; the emperor graciously and distinctly sig- 
nifying that it was a simple act of justice, and that he himself 
rejoiced to have a faithful subject restored to his service. 

On his return, he found his little daughter in high favor at 
court. She was encouraged and indulged by the emperor, who 
took a strange fancy to that familiarity and blunt sincerity in 
her, the least approach to which he would have so strongly re- 
sented in any other being. Hermione took a great liking to Pau- 
lina, and had for her that firmest and most enduring of regards, 
an attachment founded on confidence, esteem, and respect. They 
grew up together, less like princess and dependant, than friends. 

Her father’s mihtary duties taking him away from home a 
great deal, little Paulina remained with the princess, eventually 
becoming one of her ladies in waiting, and finally marrying a 
Sicilian nobleman. In her far-away home she often entertained 
her children by telling them tales of the fatherland, not the least 
interesting of which was the story of the happiest Christmas she 
ever knew, — the one on which she rescued the emperor in the 
forest, and obtained her father’s pardon. 















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